Augmenting a real-time collaboration with ranked electronic bulletin board posts

ABSTRACT

An approach for augmenting a current instant message (IM) session is presented. The subjects of the first and second posts of electronic bulletin boards are determined to be similar to the text dialog of the IM session. The first post is determined to be from a first user who previously collaborated with a participant of the text dialog. The second post is determined to be from a second user who has not collaborated with the participant. Based in part on the first post being from the first user who previously collaborated with the participant and the second post being from the second user who has not collaborated with the participant, a first hyperlink to the first post is displayed relative to a second hyperlink to the second post to indicate the first post is ranked higher in relevance to the current IM session than the second post.

This application is a continuation application claiming priority to Ser.No. 13/305,819 filed Nov. 29, 2011.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention generally relates to managing a synchronouscollaboration, and more specifically to supplementing a chat session

BACKGROUND

A large-scale, Internet-based or intranet-based threaded discussionforum (a.k.a. Jam) for facilitating innovation through enterprise-widebrainstorming, connects a large population (e.g., tens of thousands) ofindividuals across boundaries and jobs to develop actionable ideasaround business-critical or urgent societal issues. Jams may be acentral element in a management system and may facilitate atransformation of a company into a values-based organization. Forexample, International Business Machines Corporation has hosted anInnovation Jam® collaboration for products and services it develops,consults, and delivers for an external or an internal customer. A Jammay include the following components and methods:

-   -   A high-profile online event that has a specific duration.    -   A defined agenda, focused on strategic and critical enterprise        issues.    -   A real-time discussion database that includes ideas, best        practices and personnel sentiment.    -   Real-time text mining and analysis to identify and direct live        discussion trends.

BRIEF SUMMARY

An embodiment of the present invention is a system, method and programproduct for augmenting a real-time collaboration. A computer receives acontent of the real-time collaboration. The computer determines a keyword which is included in the content of the real-time collaboration.The computer determines a match between the key word which is includedin the content of the real-time collaboration and a theme of one or moreposts in a threaded discussion forum. Based on the match between the keyword which is included in the content of the real-time collaboration andthe theme of the one or more posts in the threaded discussion forum, thecomputer initiates display, on a monitor used for the real-timecollaboration, of one or more links to the one or more posts.

Another embodiment of the present invention is a system, method andprogram product for augmenting a real-time collaboration. A computerreceives a content of the real-time collaboration. The computerdetermines a first theme of the content of the real-time collaboration.The computer determines a match between the first theme of the contentof the real-time collaboration and a second theme of one or more postsin a threaded discussion forum. Based on the match between the firsttheme of the content of the real-time collaboration and the second themeof the one or more posts in the threaded discussion forum, the computerinitiates display, on a monitor used for the real-time collaboration, ofone or more links to the one or more posts.

Embodiments of the present invention recommend discussion threads basedon textual analysis of real-time collaborations between individuals oramong groups. Participants in an ongoing real-time collaboration caneasily identify discussion thread posts that are related to topics beingdiscussed in the real-time collaboration, thereby assisting theparticipants in viewing the related posts and making contributions tothe discussion threads and/or the real-time collaboration. Further,embodiments of the present invention perform a thematic analysis of achat session and compare the results of the thematic analysis to athematic analysis of a corpus of threaded discussions to presentthreaded discussion posts to participants of the chat session during thechat session, where the theme of the threaded discussion posts matchesthe theme of the chat session.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a system for recommending threadeddiscussion forum posts during a real-time collaboration, in accordancewith embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of an augmented real-time collaboration program114 (see FIG. 1) executed in computer system 101 (see FIG. 1) forrecommending threaded discussion forum posts during a real-timecollaboration, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is flowchart of a portion of augmented real-time collaborationprogram 114 (see FIG. 1) executed in computer system 101 (see FIG. 1)for modifying recommended threaded discussion forum posts during areal-time collaboration based on a new theme or new keyword(s), inaccordance with embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a portion of augmented real-time collaborationprogram 114 (see FIG. 1) executed in computer system 101 (see FIG. 1)for modifying recommended threaded discussion forum posts during areal-time collaboration based on a conversion rate, in accordance withembodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 5A is an example of an interface that includes a chat session andlinks to related posts presented by the program of FIG. 2, in accordancewith embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 5B is an exemplary interface that includes the chat session of FIG.5A together with additional chat session content that has a new themeand that further includes a modification of the links to related postsof FIG. 5A, where the links are modified by the program portions of FIG.3 and FIG. 4, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Overview

Embodiments of the present invention correlate theme(s) of subjectmatter of an asynchronous collaboration to content of a real-timecollaboration and presents links (a.k.a. hyperlinks) to the thematicallycorrelated subject matter, thereby allowing one or more participants inthe real-time collaboration to select one or more of the links, andaccess and contribute to topics of interest in the asynchronouscollaboration.

Embodiments of the present invention exploit real-time and periodicanalysis of textual data to discover relationships between a real-timecollaboration and one or more asynchronous collaborations. A real-timecollaboration utilizes computer-mediated communication betweenparticipants of the collaboration to create a real-time dialog betweenthe participants. Typically, a real-time collaboration lasts between aminute and a few hours. A real-time collaboration may be an online chatsession. Although embodiments may be described herein involving anonline chat session, the present invention contemplates otherembodiments that replace the chat session with another real-timecollaboration.

An asynchronous collaboration also utilizes computer-mediatedcommunication among participants, but the participants are not expectedto communicate in real-time, and typically there is considerable delaybetween posts by the participants. Typically, an asynchronouscollaboration lasts from days to months. An asynchronous collaborationmay be a threaded discussion forum or an electronic bulletin board.Although embodiments may be described herein involving a threadeddiscussion forum, the present invention contemplates other embodimentsthat replace the threaded discussion forum with another asynchronouscollaboration.

System for Recommending Threaded Discussion Posts During a Real-TimeCollaboration

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a system 100 for recommending threadeddiscussion forum posts during a real-time collaboration, in accordancewith embodiments of the present invention. System 100 includes acomputer system 101, which generally comprises a central processing unit(CPU) 102, a memory 104, an input/output (I/O) interface 106, and a bus108. Further, computer system 101 is coupled to I/O devices 110 and acomputer data storage unit 112. CPU 102 executes augmented real-timecollaboration program 114 stored in disk storage 112 via memory 104 torecommend threaded discussion forum posts and modify the recommendedthreaded discussion forum posts during a real-time collaboration.Computer system 101, CPU 102, memory 104, I/O interface 106, bus 108,I/O devices 110, storage unit 112 and augmented real-time collaborationprogram 114 are further described in the section entitled ComputerSystem presented below.

Via I/O interface 106, augmented real-time collaboration program 114receives content 116, such as messages entered by participants, includedin a real-time collaboration (e.g., chat session) among multipleparticipants utilizing multiple computer systems and/or computer devices(not shown). The content 116 may be stored on one or more datarepositories (not shown). Via I/O interface 106, augmented real-timecollaboration program 114 retrieves one or more themes 118 of postsincluded in one or more threaded discussion forums.

A software-based thematic analysis tool 124 executing on a computersystem 122 periodically performs a thematic analysis of posts 126 in thethreaded discussion forum(s) to determine the theme(s) 118 of the posts126. In one embodiment, the thematic analysis of posts 126 in thethreaded discussion forum(s) includes the following steps:

-   -   1. Identify a dictionary of frequently used terms in a text data        set U that includes posts 126.    -   2. Create a feature space that identifies the dictionary term        occurrences in each post of text data set U.    -   3. Apply a fast decision tree-based rule induction algorithm to        the feature space over U to identify rules that classify posts        into a category composed of posts from a subset V of U, where        the subset V is associated with a theme.    -   4. Use feature based antecedents of each rule to classify        post(s) in posts 126 that are in the subset V.

The aforementioned steps of the thematic analysis are further describedin Behal et al., U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2009/0292660,“Using Rule Induction to Identify Emerging Trends in Unstructured TextStreams,” which is hereby incorporated herein by reference, in itsentirety.

In one embodiment, augmented real-time collaboration program 114 isincluded in a tool (not shown) that enhances a single threadeddiscussion forum provided by system 100 by including the real-timecollaboration functionality provided by program 114 in the functionalityof the threaded discussion forum. In another embodiment, augmentedreal-time collaboration program 114 considers posts from one or morethreaded discussion forums that support the above-mentioned thematicanalysis, or that permits a third party application to perform theabove-mentioned thematic analysis. The augmented real-time collaborationprogram 114 may also select the aforementioned threaded discussionforum(s) from multiple threaded discussion forums by performing one ofthe following actions:

-   -   Select threaded discussion forum(s) for consideration in        response to automatically receiving an indication from the        threaded discussion forum(s) that the threaded discussion        forum(s) are currently being conducted.    -   Select threaded discussion forum(s) for consideration in        response to receiving an indication that the threaded discussion        forum(s) are currently being conducted and in response to a        participant selecting the threaded discussion forum(s).    -   Select threaded discussion forum(s) for consideration in        response to receiving an indication that the threaded discussion        forum(s) are currently being conducted and matching a        participant in the real-time collaboration to a registered        participant in the threaded discussion forum(s).    -   Select threaded discussion forum(s) for consideration in        response to receiving an indication that the threaded discussion        forum(s) are currently being conducted and matching an        organization associated with a participant in the real-time        collaboration to an organization associated with the threaded        discussion forum(s).    -   Select threaded discussion forum(s) for consideration in        response to receiving from a participant of the real-time        collaboration an entry that identifies the threaded discussion        forum(s).

In one embodiment, the real-time collaboration that includes content 116is conducted within a time period (e.g., three days) specified as theduration of the threaded discussion forum. The theme(s) 118 may bestored on one or more data repositories (not shown), such as a tableincluded in or coupled to computer system 101. Augmented real-timecollaboration program 114 determines key word(s) or theme(s) of thereal-time collaboration content 116. Augmented real-time collaborationprogram 114 may determine theme(s) of the content 116 by performing thesame thematic analysis that is used by tool 124 to determine theme(s) ofposts 126 in the threaded discussion forum. Augmented real-timecollaboration program 114 compares the key word(s) or theme(s) of thereal-time collaboration content 116 to the theme(s) 118 of postsincluded in the threaded discussion forum, and based on the comparison,generates one or more recommended posts 120 that include post(s) fromthe threaded discussion forum, where theme(s) of the recommended post(s)120 match the key word(s) or theme(s) of the real-time collaborationcontent 116.

In one embodiment, the one or more recommended posts 120 are presentedto one or more participants of the real-time collaboration, therecommended post(s) 120 have theme(s) related to the content of thereal-time collaboration, and the recommended post(s) 120 include post(s)having theme(s) selected from only the set of theme(s) periodicallyextracted from the threaded discussion forum by tool 124. In anotherembodiment, the recommended post(s) 120 are presented to participant(s)of the real-time collaboration, the recommended post(s) 120 havetheme(s) related to the content of the real-time collaboration, and therecommended post(s) 120 include post(s) included in the threadeddiscussion forum and message(s) included in the real-time collaboration,where the post(s) have theme(s) periodically extracted from the threadeddiscussion forum by tool 124 and the message(s) have theme(s) determinedby a thematic analysis of the content 116 of the real-timecollaboration, where the thematic analysis is performed by augmentedreal-time collaboration program 114.

In one embodiment, augmented real-time collaboration program 114compares key word(s) of content 116 to the theme(s) 118 of posts 126included in the threaded discussion forum by comparing every word typedin the real-time collaboration to the theme(s) discovered using thethematic analysis described above. In one embodiment, augmentedreal-time collaboration program 114 receives a list of words that willnot be matched to themes, thereby preventing both the discovery ofincorrect relationships and the discovery of too many relationships. Forexample, common words such as “a,” “the” and “and” are included in thelist of words that are excluded from thematic matching. Such words to beexcluded may be stored in a searchable collection, so that discovery ofthe excluded words may occur without undue computations. Furthermore,the list of words to be excluded may automatically change over time.With the list of words excluded, the augmented real-time collaborationprogram 114 compares the remaining words to the theme(s) 118 of theposts 126 and presents results as links to post(s) in the threadeddiscussion forum so that a user can view related material. A word whosecomparison to the theme(s) 118 of the posts 126 results in a presentedlink having a conversion rate less than a threshold value or having thelowest conversion rate may cause the word to be excluded from futurecomparisons by augmented real-time collaboration program 114.

In one embodiment, augmented real-time collaboration program 114compares theme(s) of content 116 to the theme(s) 118 of posts includedin the threaded discussion forum, where the theme(s) of content 116 arethe result of augmented real-time collaboration program 114 using thethematic analysis technique described in U.S. Patent ApplicationPublication No. 2009/0292660, supra. The augmented real-timecollaboration program 114 may use the aforementioned thematic analysistechnique to determine a theme of the real-time collaboration at acurrent time, or based upon a user-invoked action. Augmented real-timecollaboration 114 may exclude a list of words in its determination oftheme(s) of content 116 to prevent the determination of too many themesor non-important themes.

In a case in which multiple themes are related to a single real-timecollaboration, augmented real-time collaboration program 114 may rankthe multiple themes so that program 114 presents to the user the mostlikely to be useful relationship as the first presented relationship.Augmented real-time collaboration 114 may use ranking systemsindependently or in combination. Ranking systems include, but are notlimited to:

-   -   Discussion Thread Visitation History: Threads in which the user        has not yet visited may be ranked higher threads that the user        has previously visited. During the duration of a collaboration        event using the threaded discussion forum, there may be so many        discussion threads that a user may not be able to explore all        the threads. Therefore, it may be more important to direct a        user to threads that the user has not yet discovered to assist        in increasing the user's participation during the collaboration        event.    -   Collaboration Interaction History: Analysis may be performed on        previous collaborations to determine which users have        collaborated previously. Previous collaborations among a group        of users may be an indication of a preference of a user in the        group of users to collaborate with other users in the same group        in a future discussion. Therefore, threaded discussions in which        a user has not participated, while other users who have        previously collaborated with the user have participated, are        ranked higher that other related threaded discussions. In a        system employing collaboration interaction history, discussions        with the most co-collaborators or most individual collaborations        may rank above other discussions. In one embodiment, the list of        previous collaborators in a thread may be displayed to the user        along with the standard information describing the discussion        thread and the relationship.    -   Stated Interest Relevance: During registration for the        collaboration event, the user may provide the user's interests,        or the user's interests may be determined based on the user's        organization. Each interest may be manually, or through        computable methods, related to a set of themes. Discussions        related to the set of themes may be ranked higher than other        related discussions.

In one embodiment, another computer system 122 includes components (notshown) analogous to the components of computer system 101. A CPU (notshown) included in computer system 122 carries out, via a memory (notshown) included in computer system 122, instructions included in a tool124 for performing thematic analysis of posts 126 in the aforementionedthreaded discussion forum. Tool 124 receives posts 126 included in thethreaded discussion forum, and performs a thematic analysis on thecontent of the messages included in the received posts 126 to determineone or more theme(s) of the received posts 126. For example, thethematic analysis of the content of the messages included in thereceived posts is performed by the Corporate Brand and ReputationAnalysis (COBRA) system offered by International Business MachinesCorporation located in Armonk, N.Y. COBRA leverages advanced and deeptext and data analytics techniques to mine collaborations. In oneembodiment, tool 124 for performing the thematic analysis of the contentof the messages included in the received posts 126 has the followingcapabilities for determining themes of textual content:

-   -   1. Search: the ability to perform searches on unstructured text        and metadata to create on-topic stores (i.e., search and store).    -   2. Snippets Analysis: for a given topic, analyze words or        phrases at a sentence level within a document.    -   3. Clustering and Categorization: the ability to automatically        create, edit, visualize and apply taxonomies, using a guided        interactive real-time environment where the user can experiment        through observation.    -   4. Statistical Analysis: the ability to find correlations,        trends and interesting relationships hidden in the information.    -   5. Fact Extraction/Links: the ability to link the content of        heterogeneous documents together through relationships with        terms, phrases, and related or derived metadata including        people, places, things and taxonomies.    -   6. Entity Extraction: automatically pull semantic information        from text.

Messages included in posts 126 may be generated by multiple userscontributing to the threaded discussion forum by utilizing multiplecomputer systems and/or computer devices (not shown). Each of thecomputer systems and/or computer devices used by participants in thereal-time collaboration may be included in or may be different from thecomputer systems and/or computer devices utilized by users contributingto the threaded discussion forum.

In one embodiment, tool 124 repeats the thematic analysis of posts 126periodically, which allows the thematic analysis to be performed on newposts as new posts are added to the threaded discussion forum. Tool 124may receive a specific time period (e.g., 30 minutes) and perform thethematic analysis periodically based on the received time period.Computer system 122 may communicate with computer system 101 via anetwork (not shown) (e.g., the Internet), and the communication mayinclude periodically sending the periodically generated results of thethematic analysis, which includes theme(s) 118.

In one embodiment, augmented real-time collaboration program 114performs a method (see FIG. 3) of modifying recommended post(s) 120based on detecting a new theme or new key word(s) in additional contentof the real-time collaboration that is added to content 116.

In one embodiment, augmented real-time collaboration program 114performs a method (see FIG. 4) of modifying recommended post(s) 120based on conversion rate(s) for selecting one or more of the recommendedthreaded discussion forum posts.

In an alternate embodiment, tool 124 is included in computer system 101and system 100 does not require computer system 122.

The functionality of components of system 100 is further described belowin the discussions relative to FIG. 2, FIG. 3 and FIG. 4.

Process for Recommending Threaded Discussion Posts During a Real-TimeCollaboration

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of the augmented real-time collaboration program114 (see FIG. 1) executed in computer system 101 (see FIG. 1) forrecommending threaded discussion forum posts during a real-timecollaboration, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.The process of FIG. 2 starts at step 200. In step 202, augmentedreal-time collaboration program 114 (see FIG. 1) for recommendingthreaded discussion posts during a real-time collaboration receivescontent of a real-time collaboration.

In step 204, augmented real-time collaboration program 114 (see FIG. 1)determines key word(s) included in the real-time collaboration contentreceived in step 202. In another embodiment, in step 204, augmentedreal-time collaboration program 114 (see FIG. 1) performs a thematicanalysis of the real-time collaboration content received in step 202,which results in a determination of one or more themes of the real-timecollaboration content. For example, the thematic analysis of thereal-time collaboration content is performed by the COBRA system.

In step 206, augmented real-time collaboration program 114 (see FIG. 1)retrieves one or more themes 118 (see FIG. 1) of messages included inposts of a threaded discussion forum, where the retrieved theme(s) arethe result of a thematic analysis performed by tool 124 (see FIG. 1). Inone embodiment, the thematic analysis is performed periodically atdefined time intervals, where the defined time interval is received bytool 124 (see FIG. 1) prior to step 202. Each periodic performance ofthe thematic analysis may determine additional theme(s) that are addedto theme(s) 118 (see FIG. 1), where the additional theme(s) are theme(s)of posts added to the threaded discussion forum in the most recentdefined time interval.

In step 208, augmented real-time collaboration program 114 (see FIG. 1)determines match(es) between key word(s) of the real-time collaborationcontent 116 (see FIG. 1) and the theme(s) 118 (see FIG. 1) that areprovided as a result of the thematic analysis of the threaded discussionforum. Again, theme(s) 118 (see FIG. 1) of the posts in the threadeddiscussion forum are stored in a data repository such as a tableincluded in or coupled to computer system 101 (see FIG. 1). Augmentedreal-time collaboration program 114 (see FIG. 1) determines synonyms ofkey words in content 116 (see FIG. 1) by looking up each key word in alexical database (not shown in FIG. 1) that provides a thesaurusfunctionality that associates key words to synonyms. The lexicaldatabase may be enhanced with additional synonyms provided by one ormore human domain experts based on their knowledge of a domain.Augmented real-time collaboration program 114 (see FIG. 1) determines amatch between a key word in content 116 (see FIG. 1) and a theme in thetable that stores theme(s) 118 (see FIG. 1) by determining the theme isidentical to the key word or the theme is identical to one of thesynonyms of the key word determined from the look-up in the lexicaldatabase.

In another embodiment, in step 208, augmented real-time collaborationprogram 114 (see FIG. 1) determines match(es) between theme(s) of thereal-time collaboration content 116 (see FIG. 1) and the theme(s) 118(see FIG. 1) provided as a result of the thematic analysis of thethreaded discussion forum. Augmented real-time collaboration program 114(see FIG. 1) may determine a match between a first theme of thereal-time collaboration content 116 (see FIG. 1) and a second themeincluded in theme(s) 118 (see FIG. 1) by determining that the firsttheme is identical to the second theme. Augmented real-timecollaboration program 114 (see FIG. 1) may determine a match between theaforementioned first and second themes by looking up one or moresynonyms of the first theme in a lexical database and determining thatthe second theme is identical to a synonym of the first theme. Augmentedreal-time collaboration program 114 (see FIG. 1) may determine a matchbetween the aforementioned first and second themes by looking up one ormore synonyms of the second theme in a lexical database and determiningthat the first theme is identical to a synonym of the second theme.

In yet another embodiment, in step 208, augmented real-timecollaboration program 114 (see FIG. 1) determines match(es) betweentheme(s) of content of the real-time collaboration provided in one timeperiod (e.g., a most recent time period) which is included in content116 (see FIG. 1) and the union of theme(s) 118 (see FIG. 1) provided asa result of the thematic analysis of the threaded discussion forum andtheme(s) of content of the real-time collaboration provided in anothertime period (e.g., a time period preceding the most recent time period).

In step 210, based on the match(es) determined in step 208, augmentedreal-time collaboration program 114 (see FIG. 1) recommends one or moreposts of the threaded discussion forum that include subject matterrelated to the real-time collaboration content 116 (see FIG. 1). Thatis, in step 210, augmented real-time collaboration program 114 (seeFIG. 1) recommends post(s) whose theme(s) were matched to key word(s) ortheme(s) of the real-time collaboration content in step 208.

In another embodiment, in which the match(es) determined in step 208 arebased on the union of theme(s) 118 (see FIG. 1) and theme(s) of contentof the real-time collaboration, augmented real-time collaborationprogram 114 (see FIG. 1) determines, in step 210, post(s) of thethreaded discussion forum and message(s) previously contributed to thereal-time collaboration content 116 (see FIG. 1) based on theaforementioned match(es).

In optional step 212, augmented real-time collaboration program 114 (seeFIG. 1) determines a ranking of the recommended posts determined in step210, where the ranking is based on the relevance of the subject matterof each post to the theme(s) 118 (see FIG. 1). In another embodiment,augmented real-time collaboration program 114 (see FIG. 1) retrieves theranking of the posts (or posts and messages) recommended in step 210 aspart of the results retrieved in step 206, where the ranking wasdetermined by tool 124 (see FIG. 1) prior to step 206.

In step 214, augmented real-time collaboration program 114 (see FIG. 1)presents hyperlink(s) to the recommended post(s) determined in step 210.In one embodiment, the presented hyperlink(s) are permalink(s), whereeach permalink is a Uniform Resource Locator that points to a respectivepost in a threaded discussion forum. In one embodiment, augmentedreal-time collaboration program 114 (see FIG. 1) initiates a display ofthe hyperlink(s) to the recommended post(s) determined in step 210,where the display of the hyperlink(s) is viewed on a display device by aparticipant of the real-time collaboration. Augmented real-timecollaboration program 114 (see FIG. 1) displays the hyperlink(s) in oneportion of a user interface (e.g., right side of user interface 500 inFIG. 5A) that also includes messages entered by participants of thereal-time collaboration in another portion of the user interface (e.g.,left side of a user interface 500 in FIG. 5A). In one embodiment, thehyperlinks whose display is initiated in step 214 are associated withthe posts determined in step 210 in a one-to-one correspondence. In oneembodiment, the ranking of the recommended posts is determined in step212, and step 214 includes the augmented real-time collaboration program114 (see FIG. 1) presenting the hyperlinks associated with the posts inan ordered list, where the order is specified by the ranking. In oneembodiment, the augmented real-time collaboration program 114 (seeFIG. 1) displays the hyperlinks in step 214 along with snippets of themessages included the posts that are accessed by selecting thehyperlinks.

In one embodiment, the display of the hyperlink(s) initiated in step 214is included in the same interface that at least one participant of thereal-time collaboration uses to view the content of an ongoing real-timecollaboration between the at least one participant and one or more otherparticipants.

In step 215, augmented real-time collaboration program 114 (see FIG. 1)optionally modifies the recommended post(s) based on a new theme or newkey word(s) in additional content of the real-time collaboration (seeFIG. 3) and/or based on a conversion rate for selecting hyperlink(s)presented in step 214 (see FIG. 4).

In step 216, augmented real-time collaboration program 114 (see FIG. 1)receives a selection of a hyperlink of the hyperlink(s) presented instep 214, step 310 (see FIG. 3) or step 410 (see FIG. 4). In response toreceiving the selection of the hyperlink, augmented real-timecollaboration program 114 (see FIG. 1) initiates a display of themessage included in the post associated with the selected hyperlink.Other information included in the post, such as the author of themessage and the date of the post, may also be displayed along with themessage in response to receiving the selection of the hyperlink.

In one embodiment, the message whose display is initiated in step 216 isa message contributed to the threaded discussion forum. In anotherembodiment, the message whose display is initiated in step 216 is amessage contributed to the threaded discussion forum or a messageincluded in a transcript of the real-time collaboration.

Following step 216, the process of FIG. 2 ends at step 218.

In one embodiment, steps 202 through 216 are performed while thereal-time collaboration and the threaded discussion forum are ongoing.

Processes for Modifying Recommended Posts During a Real-TimeCollaboration

FIG. 3 is flowchart of step 215 of the augmented real-time collaborationprogram 114 (see FIG. 1) executed in computer system 101 (see FIG. 1)for modifying recommended threaded discussion forum posts during areal-time collaboration based on a new theme or new keyword(s), inaccordance with embodiments of the present invention. The process ofFIG. 3 begins at step 300.

In step 304, augmented real-time collaboration program 114 (see FIG. 1)receives additional content of the real-time collaboration, whichincludes content of messages of the real-time collaboration that weresent by participants of the collaboration after step 214 (see FIG. 2)was performed. Augmented real-time collaboration program 114 (seeFIG. 1) modifies real-time collaboration content 116 (see FIG. 1) byadding the aforementioned additional content.

In step 306, augmented real-time collaboration program 114 (see FIG. 1)detects one or more new key words in the additional content of thereal-time collaboration. In another embodiment, augmented real-timecollaboration program 114 (see FIG. 1) detects a new theme of theadditional content of the real-time collaboration.

In step 308, augmented real-time collaboration program 114 (see FIG. 1)modifies the set of links presented in step 214 (see FIG. 2) based onthe new key word(s) detected in step 306. Augmented real-timecollaboration program 114 (see FIG. 1) determines match(es) between thenew key word(s) detected in step 306 and the theme(s) resulting from thelatest thematic analysis of the threaded discussion forum performed bytool 124 (see FIG. 1). Augmented real-time collaboration program 114(see FIG. 1) determines the aforementioned match(es) in step 308 in thesame way program 114 (see FIG. 1) determines a match between a key wordin the real-time collaboration and a theme of the threaded discussionforum in step 208 (see FIG. 2). Based on the match(es) determined instep 308, augmented real-time collaboration program 114 (see FIG. 1)determines post(s) of the threaded discussion forum that are related tothe additional content of the real-time collaboration. Subsequently,augmented real-time collaboration program 114 (see FIG. 1) modifies theset of links presented in step 214 (see FIG. 2) by adding the post(s)determined based on the match(es) between the new key word(s) detectedin step 306 and the theme(s) resulting from the latest thematic analysisof the threaded discussion forum.

In another embodiment, in step 308, augmented real-time collaborationprogram 114 (see FIG. 1) modifies the set of links presented in step 214(see FIG. 2) based on the new theme detected in step 306. Augmentedreal-time collaboration program 114 (see FIG. 1) determines a matchbetween the new theme detected in step 306 and a theme resulting fromthe latest thematic analysis of the threaded discussion forum performedby tool 124 (see FIG. 1). Augmented real-time collaboration program 114(see FIG. 1) determines the aforementioned match in step 308 between thenew theme detected in step 306 and the theme of the threaded discussionforum in the same way program 114 (see FIG. 1) determines a matchbetween a theme of the real-time collaboration and a theme of thethreaded discussion forum in step 208 (see FIG. 2). Based on the matchbetween the theme of the real-time collaboration and the theme of thethreaded discussion forum, augmented real-time collaboration program 114(see FIG. 1) determines post(s) of the threaded discussion forum thatare related to the additional content of the real-time collaboration.Subsequently, augmented real-time collaboration program 114 (see FIG. 1)modifies the set of links presented in step 214 (see FIG. 2) by addingthe post(s) determined based on the match between the new theme detectedin step 306 and a theme resulting from the latest thematic analysis ofthe threaded discussion forum.

In step 310, augmented real-time collaboration program 114 (see FIG. 1)presents the modified set of links during the real-time collaboration.In one embodiment, in step 310, augmented real-time collaborationprogram 114 (see FIG. 1) initiates a display of the modified set oflinks on a display device so that a participant of the real-timecollaboration can view messages included in the real-time collaborationand the modified set of links. The augmented real-time collaborationprogram 114 (see FIG. 1) displays the modified set of links in oneportion of a user interface and also displays messages included in thereal-time collaboration in another portion of the same user interface.Following step 310, the process of FIG. 3 ends at step 312.

In one embodiment, steps 304 through 310 are performed during thereal-time collaboration and during the threaded discussion forum.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of step 215 (see FIG. 2) of augmented real-timecollaboration program 114 (see FIG. 1) executed in computer system 101(see FIG. 1) for modifying recommended threaded discussion forum postsduring a real-time collaboration based on a conversion rate, inaccordance with embodiments of the present invention. The process ofFIG. 4 starts at step 400.

In step 404, augmented real-time collaboration program 114 (see FIG. 1)tracks conversion rates for one or more participants of the real-timecollaboration selecting the links in the set of links presented in step214 (see FIG. 2). As used herein, a conversion rate for selecting a linkis defined as the ratio of the number of times participants of thereal-time collaboration click on the link to the number of times thelink is displayed to the participants of the real-time collaboration.

In step 406, augmented real-time collaboration program 114 (see FIG. 1)determines that a conversion rate included in the conversion ratestracked in step 404 is less than a threshold value, or otherwise failsto satisfy a predefined condition. In one embodiment, augmentedreal-time collaboration program 114 (see FIG. 1) receives the thresholdvalue prior to step 214 (see FIG. 2).

In step 408, augmented real-time collaboration program 114 (see FIG. 1)modifies the set of links previously presented in step 214 (see FIG. 2)by removing the link whose conversion rate was determined in step 406 tobe less than the threshold value (or was determined in step 406 to notsatisfy the aforementioned predefined condition).

In step 410, augmented real-time collaboration program 114 (see FIG. 1)presents the set of links modified in step 408 during the real-timecollaboration. In one embodiment, in step 410, augmented real-timecollaboration program 114 (see FIG. 1) initiates a display of themodified set of links on a display device so that a participant of thereal-time collaboration can view messages included in the collaborationand the modified set of links. Following step 410, the process of FIG. 4ends at step 412.

Examples

FIG. 5A is an example of an interface that includes a chat session andlinks to related posts presented by the program of FIG. 2, in accordancewith embodiments of the present invention. Example interface 500includes a first portion (e.g., left side of the interface) thatincludes content of a chat session which includes chat session content502-1 and chat session content 502-2. Content 502-1 and content 502-2have the same theme (i.e., Theme 1) and are received by augmentedreal-time collaboration program 114 (see FIG. 1) in step 202 (see FIG.2). The theme of the chat session content is the result of a thematicanalysis performed on the chat session content by augmented real-timecollaboration program 114 (see FIG. 1) in step 204 (see FIG. 2).

Example interface 500 includes a second portion (e.g., right side of theinterface) that includes an ordered list of hyperlinks and snippets ofthe messages included in the posts that are accessed by selecting thehyperlinks. Snippet A and hyperlink to Post A 504-1 is listed first inthe ordered list. Snippet B and link to Post B 504-2 is listed second inthe ordered list. Snippet C and link to Post C 504-3 is listed third inthe ordered list. The posts associated with the listed hyperlinks eachhave the same theme (i.e., Theme 1), which is also the theme of content502-1 and content 502-2. The theme of the posts associated with thehyperlinks included in the ordered list is the result of a thematicanalysis performed by tool 124 (see FIG. 1) on a threaded discussionforum that includes the posts.

The hyperlinks included in the list in example interface 500 wereselected based on augmented real-time collaboration program 114 (seeFIG. 1) determining a match between the theme of the content of the chatsession (i.e., content 502-1 and 502-2) and the theme of theaforementioned posts, which were selected from a plurality of postsincluded in the threaded discussion forum (see steps 208 and 210 in FIG.2). The list of hyperlinks 504-1, 504-2, 504-3 in interface 500 isordered according to a ranking determined by augmented real-timecollaboration program 114 (see FIG. 1) in step 212 (see FIG. 2).Augmented real-time collaboration program 114 (see FIG. 1) presents theordered list of hyperlinks 504-1, 504-2, 504-3 to participants of thereal-time collaboration in step 214 (see FIG. 2). The presentation ofthe hyperlinks in 504-1, 504-2 and 504-3 allows a participant of thechat session to select one of the hyperlinks, view the associated postfrom the threaded discussion forum that includes subject matter relatedto the content of the chat session, and contribute one or more otherposts to the threaded discussion forum based on the content of the chatsession.

FIG. 5B is an exemplary interface that includes the chat session of FIG.5A together with additional chat session content that has a new themeand that further includes a modification of the links to related postsof FIG. 5A, where the links are modified by the program portions of FIG.3 and FIG. 4, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.Example interface 550 includes a first portion (e.g., left side of theinterface) that includes content of a chat session which includes chatsession content 502-1 and 502-2 having a theme of Theme 1, as determinedby augmented real-time collaboration program 114 (see FIG. 1) (see thediscussion of FIG. 5A above). The first portion of interface 550 alsoincludes additional chat session content 502-3, 502-4 and 502-5.

The additional chat session content is received by augmented real-timecollaboration program 114 (see FIG. 1) in step 304 (see FIG. 3) afterthe presentation of the set of hyperlinks shown in FIG. 5A (see step 214in FIG. 2). Augmented real-time collaboration program 114 (see FIG. 1)detects a new theme (i.e., Theme 2) of the additional chat sessioncontent (see step 306 in FIG. 3). The new theme of the additional chatsession content is the result of a thematic analysis performed on theadditional chat session content by augmented real-time collaborationprogram 114 (see FIG. 1) in step 306 (see FIG. 3). Augmented real-timecollaboration program 114 (see FIG. 1) modifies the ordered list ofhyperlinks shown in FIG. 5A in step 308 (see FIG. 3) so that Snippet Dand hyperlink to post D 504-4 having a theme of Theme 2 is added to thelist of hyperlinks.

Furthermore, after the presentation of the set of hyperlinks in step 214(see FIG. 2), the conversion rate for the hyperlinks shown in FIG. 5A istracked by augmented real-time collaboration program 114 (see FIG. 1)(see step 404 in FIG. 4). In step 406 (see FIG. 4), augmented real-timecollaboration program 114 (see FIG. 1) determines that the conversionrate for Post B listed in FIG. 5A is less than a threshold value thathad been received by augmented real-time collaboration program 114 (seeFIG. 1) prior to step 404 (see FIG. 4). Augmented real-timecollaboration program 114 (see FIG. 1) modifies the set of linkspresented in 214 (see FIG. 2) by removing Snippet B and the hyperlink toPost B 504-2 (see step 408 in FIG. 4) because the conversion rate forPost B was determined to be less than the threshold value. Augmentedreal-time collaboration program 114 (see FIG. 1) ranks the list ofsnippets and hyperlinks and the resulting ordered list of snippets andhyperlinks include Snippet D and the hyperlink to Post D 504-4, followedby Snippet A and hyperlink to Post A 504-1, which is followed by SnippetC and hyperlink to Post C 504-3.

Alternately, the steps of FIG. 4 that result in the removal of Snippet Band the hyperlink to Post B 504-2 could be performed before or duringthe same time period in which the steps of FIG. 3 are performed thatresults in the addition of Snippet D and hyperlink to Post D 504-4.

Augmented real-time collaboration program 114 (see FIG. 1) presents theset of links modified by step 308 (see FIG. 3) and step 408 (see FIG. 4)during the ongoing real-time collaboration (see step 310 in FIG. 3 andstep 410 in FIG. 4).

The hyperlinks 504-1 and 504-3 included in the list in example interface550 were selected based on augmented real-time collaboration program 114(see FIG. 1) determining a match between Theme 1 of chat session content502-1 and 502-2 and Theme 1 of Post A and Post C. Furthermore, thehyperlink 504-4 included in the list in example interface 550 wasselected based on augmented real-time collaboration program 114 (seeFIG. 1) determining a match between Theme 2 of chat session content502-3, 502-4 and 502-5 and Theme 2 of Post D. The matching posts wereselected from a plurality of posts included in the threaded discussionforum (see steps 208 and 210 in FIG. 2). The list of hyperlinks ininterface 550 is ordered according to a ranking determined in step 212(see FIG. 2) and is presented to participants of the real-timecollaboration by step 214 (see FIG. 2). The presentation of thehyperlinks in 504-4, 504-1 and 504-3 allows a participant of the chatsession to select one of the hyperlinks, view the associated post fromthe threaded discussion forum that includes subject matter related tothe content of the chat session, and contribute one or more other poststo the threaded discussion forum based on the content of the chatsession.

Computer System

In one embodiment, computer system 101 in FIG. 1 implements theprocesses of FIG. 2, FIG. 3 and FIG. 4. Computer system 101 generallycomprises a central processing unit (CPU) 102, a memory 104, aninput/output (I/O) interface 106, and a bus 108. Further, computersystem 101 is coupled to I/O devices 110 and a computer data storageunit 112. CPU 102 performs computation and control functions of computersystem 101, including carrying out instructions included in augmentedreal-time collaboration program 114 (a.k.a. program code 114) to performa method of recommending threaded discussion forum posts during areal-time collaboration, where the instructions are carried out by CPU102 via memory 104. In one embodiment, the CPU 102 carries outinstructions included in program code 114 to perform a method ofmodifying recommended threaded discussion forum posts during a real-timecollaboration. CPU 102 may comprise a single processing unit, or bedistributed across one or more processing units in one or more locations(e.g., on a client and server).

Memory 104 may comprise any known computer-readable storage medium,which is described below. In one embodiment, cache memory elements ofmemory 104 provide temporary storage of at least some program code(e.g., program code 114) in order to reduce the number of times codemust be retrieved from bulk storage while instructions of the programcode are carried out. Moreover, similar to CPU 102, memory 104 mayreside at a single physical location, comprising one or more types ofdata storage, or be distributed across a plurality of physical systemsin various forms. Further, memory 104 can include data distributedacross, for example, a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network(WAN).

I/O interface 106 comprises any system for exchanging information to orfrom an external source. I/O devices 110 comprise any known type ofexternal device, including a display device (e.g., monitor), keyboard,mouse, printer, speakers, handheld device, facsimile, etc. Bus 108provides a communication link between each of the components in computersystem 101, and may comprise any type of transmission link, includingelectrical, optical, wireless, etc.

I/O interface 106 also allows computer system 101 to store information(e.g., data or program instructions such as program code 114) on andretrieve the information from computer data storage unit 112 or anothercomputer data storage unit (not shown). Computer data storage unit 112may comprise any known computer-readable storage medium, which isdescribed below. For example, computer data storage unit 112 may be anon-volatile data storage device, such as a magnetic disk drive (i.e.,hard disk drive) or an optical disc drive (e.g., a CD-ROM drive whichreceives a CD-ROM disk).

Memory 104 and/or storage unit 112 may store computer program code 114that includes instructions that are carried out by CPU 102 via memory104 to suggest threaded discussion forum posts during a real-timecollaboration. In one embodiment, memory 104 and/or storage unit 112stores program code 114 that includes instructions that are carried outby CPU 102 via memory 104 to modify recommended threaded discussionforum posts during a real-time collaboration. Although FIG. 1 depictsmemory 104 as including program code 114, the present inventioncontemplates embodiments in which memory 104 does not include all ofcode 114 simultaneously, but instead at one time includes only a portionof code 114.

Further, memory 104 may include other systems not shown in FIG. 1, suchas an operating system (e.g., Linux®) that runs on CPU 102 and providescontrol of various components within and/or connected to computer system101.

Storage unit 112 and/or one or more other computer data storage units(not shown) that are coupled to computer system 101 may store real-timecollaboration content 116, theme(s) 118 of posts in a threadeddiscussion forum, and/or recommended post(s) 120.

As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, the present inventionmay be embodied as a system, method or computer program product.Accordingly, an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention maytake the form of an entirely hardware aspect, an entirely softwareaspect (including firmware, resident software, micro-code, etc.) or anaspect combining software and hardware aspects that may all generally bereferred to herein as a “module”. Furthermore, an embodiment of thepresent invention may take the form of a computer program productembodied in one or more computer-readable medium(s) (e.g., memory 104and/or computer data storage unit 112) having computer-readable programcode (e.g., program code 114) embodied or stored thereon.

Any combination of one or more computer-readable mediums (e.g., memory104 and computer data storage unit 112) may be utilized. In oneembodiment, the computer-readable storage medium is a computer-readablestorage device or computer-readable storage apparatus. Acomputer-readable storage medium may be, for example, but not limitedto, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared orsemiconductor system, apparatus, device or any suitable combination ofthe foregoing. A non-exhaustive list of more specific examples of thecomputer-readable storage medium includes: an electrical connectionhaving one or more wires, a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, arandom access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasableprogrammable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), an optical fiber,a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), an optical storagedevice, a magnetic storage device, or any suitable combination of theforegoing. In the context of this document, a computer-readable storagemedium may be a tangible medium that can contain or store a program(e.g., program 114) for use by or in connection with a system,apparatus, or device for carrying out instructions. The term“computer-readable storage device” does not include a signal propagationmedium such as a copper cable, optical fiber or a wireless transmissionmedium.

Program code (e.g., program code 114) may be transmitted using anyappropriate medium, including but not limited to wireless, wireline,optical fiber cable, RF, etc., or any suitable combination of theforegoing.

Computer program code (e.g., program code 114) for carrying outoperations for aspects of the present invention may be written in anycombination of one or more programming languages, including an objectoriented programming language such as Java®, Smalltalk, C++ or the likeand conventional procedural programming languages, such as the “C”programming language or similar programming languages. Java and allJava-based trademarks and logos are trademarks or registered trademarksof Oracle and/or its affiliates. Instructions of the program code may becarried out entirely on a user's computer, partly on the user'scomputer, as a stand-alone software package, partly on the user'scomputer and partly on a remote computer or entirely on the remotecomputer or server, where the aforementioned user's computer, remotecomputer and server may be, for example, computer system 101 or anothercomputer system (not shown) having components analogous to thecomponents of computer system 101 included in FIG. 1. In the latterscenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user's computerthrough any type of network (not shown), including a LAN or a WAN, orthe connection may be made to an external computer (e.g., through theInternet using an Internet Service Provider).

Aspects of the present invention are described herein with reference toflowchart illustrations (e.g., FIG. 2, FIG. 3 and FIG. 4) and/or blockdiagrams of methods, apparatus (systems) (e.g., FIG. 1), and computerprogram products according to embodiments of the invention. It will beunderstood that each block of the flowchart illustrations and/or blockdiagrams, and combinations of blocks in the flowchart illustrationsand/or block diagrams, can be implemented by computer programinstructions (e.g., program code 114). These computer programinstructions may be provided to one or more hardware processors (e.g.,CPU 102) of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, orother programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, suchthat the instructions, which are carried out via the processor(s) of thecomputer or other programmable data processing apparatus, create meansfor implementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/orblock diagram block or blocks.

These computer program instructions may also be stored in acomputer-readable medium (e.g., memory 104 or computer data storage unit112) that can direct a computer (e.g., computer system 101), otherprogrammable data processing apparatus, or other devices to function ina particular manner, such that the instructions (e.g., program 114)stored in the computer-readable medium produce an article of manufactureincluding instructions which implement the function/act specified in theflowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.

The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer(e.g., computer system 101), other programmable data processingapparatus, or other devices to cause a series of operational steps to beperformed on the computer, other programmable apparatus, or otherdevices to produce a computer implemented process such that theinstructions (e.g., program 114) which are carried out on the computer,other programmable apparatus, or other devices provide processes forimplementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks.

The flowcharts in FIG. 2, FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 and the block diagram inFIG. 1 illustrate the architecture, functionality, and operation ofpossible implementations of systems, methods, and computer programproducts according to various embodiments of the present invention. Inthis regard, each block in the flowchart or block diagrams may representa module, segment, or portion of code (e.g., program code 114), whichcomprises one or more executable instructions for implementing thespecified logical function(s). It should also be noted that, in somealternative implementations, the functions noted in the block may occurout of the order noted in the figures. For example, two blocks shown insuccession may, in fact, be performed substantially concurrently, or theblocks may sometimes be performed in reverse order, depending upon thefunctionality involved. It will also be noted that each block of theblock diagrams and/or flowchart illustrations, and combinations ofblocks in the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustrations, can beimplemented by special purpose hardware-based systems that perform thespecified functions or acts, or combinations of special purpose hardwareand computer instructions.

While embodiments of the present invention have been described hereinfor purposes of illustration, many modifications and changes will becomeapparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the appended claimsare intended to encompass all such modifications and changes as fallwithin the true spirit and scope of this invention.

1. A method of augmenting a current instant message session comprising areal-time, text dialog among a plurality of participants, the pluralityof participants having respective computing devices displayingrespective windows containing the text dialog of the current instantmessage session, the method comprising the steps of: a computerdetermining that a first post of a first electronic bulletin board and asecond post of the first or a second electronic bulletin board havesimilar subject matter as the text dialog of the current instant messagesession based in part on a similarity of key words within the first andsecond posts and the current instant message session; the computerdetermining that the first post is from a first user with whom one ofthe plurality of participants previously collaborated in the currentinstant message session or a prior instant message session; the computerdetermining that the second post is from a second user with whom the oneparticipant has not collaborated in any instant message session known tothe computer; and based at least in part on the first post being fromthe first user with whom the one participant has previously collaboratedin an instant message session and the second post being from the seconduser with whom the participant has not collaborated in any instantmessage session known to the computer, the computer displaying in thewindow of the computing device of the one participant a first hyperlinkto the first post before or above a second hyperlink to the second postto indicate that the first post is ranked higher in relevance to thecurrent instant message session than the second post.
 2. The method ofclaim 1, further comprising the steps of: the computer determining thefirst post is included in a first discussion among first users and thesecond post is included in a second discussion among second users; thecomputer determining the one participant previously collaborated with afirst number of users included in the first users; the computerdetermining the one participant previously collaborated with a secondnumber of other users included in the second users; and the computerdetermining the first number is greater than the second number, whereinthe step of displaying in the window of the computing device of the oneparticipant the first hyperlink to the first post before or above thesecond hyperlink to the second post to indicate that the first post isranked higher in relevance to the current instant message session thanthe second post is based in part on the first number being greater thanthe second number.
 3. The method of claim 2, further comprising the stepof the computer determining the one participant did not participate inthe first discussion, wherein the step of displaying in the window ofthe computing device of the one participant the first hyperlink to thefirst post before or above the second hyperlink to the second post toindicate that the first post is ranked higher in relevance to thecurrent instant message session than the second post is based in part onthe one participant not having participated in the first discussion. 4.The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of: the computerdetermining the first post is part of a first discussion thread and thesecond post is part of a second discussion thread; and the computerdetermining the one participant previously viewed the second discussionthread, but not the first discussion thread, wherein the step ofdisplaying in the window of the computing device of the one participantthe first hyperlink to the first post before or above the secondhyperlink to the second post to indicate that the first post is rankedhigher in relevance to the current instant message session than thesecond post is based in part on the one participant having previouslyviewed the second discussion thread but not the first discussion thread.5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of: the computerdetermining an interest of the one participant from an entry of theinterest by the one participant or based on an organization to which theone participant belongs; and the computer determining the first post andthe interest have similar subject matter and the second post and theinterest do not have similar subject matter, wherein the step ofdisplaying in the window of the computing device of the one participantthe first hyperlink to the first post before or above the secondhyperlink to the second post to indicate that the first post is rankedhigher in relevance to the current instant message session than thesecond post is based in part on the first post and the interest havingsimilar subject matter and the second post and the interest not havingsimilar subject matter.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first andsecond electronic bulletin boards are separate from the current andprior instant message sessions.
 7. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising the steps of: the computer determining a first theme of thefirst post by employing a thematic analysis of the first post; thecomputer determining a second theme of the second post by employing thethematic analysis of the second post; the computer determining a thirdtheme of the text dialog of the current instant message session; and thecomputer determining the first and second themes match the third theme,wherein the step of determining the first and second posts have similarsubject matter as the text dialog of the current instant message sessionis based in part on the first and second themes matching the thirdtheme.
 8. A computer program product for augmenting a current instantmessage session comprising a real-time, text dialog among a plurality ofparticipants, the plurality of participants having respective computingdevices displaying respective windows containing the text dialog of thecurrent instant message session, the computer program productcomprising: computer-readable storage device(s); and computer-readableprogram instructions stored on the computer-readable storage device(s),the computer-readable program instructions when executed by a CPU of acomputer: determine that a first post of a first electronic bulletinboard and a second post of the first or a second electronic bulletinboard have similar subject matter as the text dialog of the currentinstant message session based in part on a similarity of key wordswithin the first and second posts and the current instant messagesession; determine that the first post is from a first user with whomone of the plurality of participants previously collaborated in thecurrent instant message session or a prior instant message session;determine that the second post is from a second user with whom the oneparticipant has not collaborated in any instant message session known tothe computer; and based at least in part on the first post being fromthe first user with whom the one participant has previously collaboratedin an instant message session and the second post being from the seconduser with whom the participant has not collaborated in any instantmessage session known to the computer, display in the window of thecomputing device of the one participant a first hyperlink to the firstpost before or above a second hyperlink to the second post to indicatethat the first post is ranked higher in relevance to the current instantmessage session than the second post.
 9. The computer program product ofclaim 8, further comprising program instructions, stored on the storagedevice(s), to: determine the first post is included in a firstdiscussion among first users and the second post is included in a seconddiscussion among second users; determine the one participant previouslycollaborated with a first number of users included in the first users;determine the one participant previously collaborated with a secondnumber of other users included in the second users; and determine thefirst number is greater than the second number, wherein the programinstructions to display in the window of the computing device of the oneparticipant the first hyperlink to the first post before or above thesecond hyperlink to the second post to indicate that the first post isranked higher in relevance to the current instant message session thanthe second post are executed based in part on the first number beinggreater than the second number.
 10. The computer program product ofclaim 9, further comprising program instructions, stored on the storagedevice(s), to determine the one participant did not participate in thefirst discussion, wherein the program instructions to display in thewindow of the computing device of the one participant the firsthyperlink to the first post before or above the second hyperlink to thesecond post to indicate that the first post is ranked higher inrelevance to the current instant message session than the second postare executed based in part on the one participant not havingparticipated in the first discussion.
 11. The computer program productof claim 8, further comprising program instructions, stored on thestorage device(s), to: determine the first post is part of a firstdiscussion thread and the second post is part of a second discussionthread; and determine the one participant previously viewed the seconddiscussion thread, but not the first discussion thread, wherein theprogram instructions to display in the window of the computing device ofthe one participant the first hyperlink to the first post before orabove the second hyperlink to the second post to indicate that the firstpost is ranked higher in relevance to the current instant messagesession than the second post are executed based in part on the oneparticipant having previously viewed the second discussion thread butnot the first discussion thread.
 12. The computer program product ofclaim 8, further comprising program instructions, stored on the storagedevice(s), to: determine an interest of the one participant from anentry of the interest by the one participant or based on an organizationto which the one participant belongs; and determine the first post andthe interest have similar subject matter and the second post and theinterest do not have similar subject matter, wherein the programinstructions to display in the window of the computing device of the oneparticipant the first hyperlink to the first post before or above thesecond hyperlink to the second post to indicate that the first post isranked higher in relevance to the current instant message session thanthe second post are executed based in part on the first post and theinterest having similar subject matter and the second post and theinterest not having similar subject matter.
 13. The computer programproduct of claim 8, wherein the first and second electronic bulletinboards are separate from the current and prior instant message sessions.14. The computer program product of claim 8, further comprising programinstructions, stored on the storage device(s), to: determine a firsttheme of the first post by employing a thematic analysis of the firstpost; determine a second theme of the second post by employing thethematic analysis of the second post; determine a third theme of thetext dialog of the current instant message session; and determine thefirst and second themes match the third theme, wherein the programinstructions to determine the first and second posts have similarsubject matter as the text dialog of the current instant message sessionare executed based in part on the first and second themes matching thethird theme.
 15. A computer system for augmenting a current instantmessage session comprising a real-time, text dialog among a plurality ofparticipants, the plurality of participants having respective computingdevices displaying respective windows containing the text dialog of thecurrent instant message session, the computer system comprising: one ormore processors; one or more computer-readable memories; one or morecomputer-readable storage devices; and program instructions stored onthe one or more storage devices for execution by the one or moreprocessors via the one or more memories, the program instructionscomprising: first program instructions to determine that a first post ofa first electronic bulletin board and a second post of the first or asecond electronic bulletin board have similar subject matter as the textdialog of the current instant message session based in part on asimilarity of key words within the first and second posts and thecurrent instant message session; second program instructions todetermine that the first post is from a first user with whom one of theplurality of participants previously collaborated in the current instantmessage session or a prior instant message session; third programinstructions to determine that the second post is from a second userwith whom the one participant has not collaborated in any instantmessage session known to the computer system; and based at least in parton the first post being from the first user with whom the oneparticipant has previously collaborated in an instant message sessionand the second post being from the second user with whom the participanthas not collaborated in any instant message session known to thecomputer system, fourth program instructions to display in the window ofthe computing device of the one participant a first hyperlink to thefirst post before or above a second hyperlink to the second post toindicate that the first post is ranked higher in relevance to thecurrent instant message session than the second post.
 16. The computersystem of claim 15, further comprising: fifth program instructions,stored on the one or more storage devices for execution by the one ormore processors via the one or more memories, to determine the firstpost is included in a first discussion among first users and the secondpost is included in a second discussion among second users; sixthprogram instructions, stored on the one or more storage devices forexecution by the one or more processors via the one or more memories, todetermine the one participant previously collaborated with a firstnumber of users included in the first users; seventh programinstructions, stored on the one or more storage devices for execution bythe one or more processors via the one or more memories, to determinethe one participant previously collaborated with a second number ofother users included in the second users; and eighth programinstructions, stored on the one or more storage devices for execution bythe one or more processors via the one or more memories, to determinethe first number is greater than the second number, wherein the fourthprogram instructions to display in the window of the computing device ofthe one participant the first hyperlink to the first post before orabove the second hyperlink to the second post to indicate that the firstpost is ranked higher in relevance to the current instant messagesession than the second post are executed based in part on the firstnumber being greater than the second number.
 17. The computer system ofclaim 16, further comprising ninth program instructions, stored on thestorage device(s), to determine the one participant did not participatein the first discussion, wherein the program instructions to display inthe window of the computing device of the one participant the firsthyperlink to the first post before or above the second hyperlink to thesecond post to indicate that the first post is ranked higher inrelevance to the current instant message session than the second postare executed based in part on the one participant not havingparticipated in the first discussion.
 18. The computer system of claim15, further comprising: fifth program instructions, stored on the one ormore storage devices for execution by the one or more processors via theone or more memories, to determine the first post is part of a firstdiscussion thread and the second post is part of a second discussionthread; and sixth program instructions, stored on the one or morestorage devices for execution by the one or more processors via the oneor more memories, to determine the one participant previously viewed thesecond discussion thread, but not the first discussion thread, whereinthe fourth program instructions to display in the window of thecomputing device of the one participant the first hyperlink to the firstpost before or above the second hyperlink to the second post to indicatethat the first post is ranked higher in relevance to the current instantmessage session than the second post are executed based in part on theone participant having previously viewed the second discussion threadbut not the first discussion thread.
 19. The computer system of claim15, further comprising: fifth program instructions, stored on the one ormore storage devices for execution by the one or more processors via theone or more memories, to determine an interest of the one participantfrom an entry of the interest by the one participant or based on anorganization to which the one participant belongs; and sixth programinstructions, stored on the one or more storage devices for execution bythe one or more processors via the one or more memories, to determinethe first post and the interest have similar subject matter and thesecond post and the interest do not have similar subject matter, whereinthe fourth program instructions to display in the window of thecomputing device of the one participant the first hyperlink to the firstpost before or above the second hyperlink to the second post to indicatethat the first post is ranked higher in relevance to the current instantmessage session than the second post are executed based in part on thefirst post and the interest having similar subject matter and the secondpost and the interest not having similar subject matter.
 20. Thecomputer system of claim 15, wherein the first and second electronicbulletin boards are separate from the current and prior instant messagesessions.